Can Hardly Wait

Two years ago, my family got together for a week in Sedona, Arizona. We had so much fun that we decided to do it again this year for our Family Reunion. In just one week, we will be out of the Phoenix heat and enjoying company of family from Utah and Arizona. With two new babies to enjoy, I am sure this year's get-together is going to be a blast. Especially since the menu has been planned for eight months. A small part of me wishes that I was exaggerating, but one can't leave these important things to chance!

In honor of the upcoming fun that will no doubt take place, I thought I'd post some highlights of the eating, ping pong-playing, hiking, eating, swimming, arm wrestling, and eating that took place on that wonderful week. I'm glad I like my family so much. And I'm glad we have such a neat place to meet each other every few years!

Sorry about the fuzz. I have sinced replaced a Nikon with a Canon and will never go back! Unless, of course, I happen to win one from The Pioneer Woman. I doubt that will happen, so consider it a solid vow.

Come on, Sedona!

Storage Galore

Our new home came with a two-car garage, but it's pretty small. John keeps teasing me that there will be no room for a Highlander some day, which is what my hopes are set on for when we have kids to truck around. We still have a few boxes in the small garage that we are using to remove the last little bit from the apartment. We don't have a deadline to get out of the old place, so we have taken our time in settling in each load instead of having boxes piled everywhere. It has been a blessing, since I would hate to get behind in putting things away. By doing it this way, I know where everything is going and can put it in its rightful place before starting on the next load. I am anxious to get everything out of the apartment and clean it, too, and hope to finish that this week.

Because the garage is small, the builder planned ahead and built a storage room just off the patio out back. We lock it and even had the security system install a warning on the door. We purchased two industrial-strength shelving units from Costco and finally put them up this past weekend. It will be so nice to have camping gear, Christmas decorations, and tool storage where it belongs! We are also going to use it as a pool equipment room, since anything out in the sun will bake and die...just like that little snake we accidentally fried as kids out on The Ranch.

Our water heater is also out in the storage room. It's about to go, so we have been saving up for a new one for when the time comes. Just like my present car, we will run it until it dies before replacing it! They both have about 225,000 miles on them...

We are getting lots done on the house, which is really fun and satisfying. I cannot begin to describe how happy this house makes me. I really love it. I love being a homeowner. I love having it with such a great husband, to whom I am rather partial.

All Tied Up

I haven't been my usual patient shopper lately. Historically, I gain great satisfaction by waiting for months for the perfect something to appear in the store. I envision it in my brain, then simply wait for the store to come around. And for it to go on sale. This past month, however, I have not allowed myself such patience. If I need something for the house and can't find it after checking a few stores, I simply go home and order from Amazon. I really love Amazon. And I really love getting packages on my doorstep. It's a celebration every day the UPS man pulls up!

Recently, this lovely little number was sitting on my front porch. After checking TJ Maxx, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Bed Bath and Beyond for a tie rack to go in our closet, I finally gave up and found the perfect one online. It came yesterday afternoon, and I just finished installing it. My husband had the ties temporarily slung over a hanger prior to this installation, knowing we were on the look-out for for something better. And I am tickled with how it turned out! The hooks come off for easy use. It is sturdy and attaches easily to the wall with a drill and some drywall inserts prior to the screws holding it all in place.

A few things that I realized today as a direct result of this project: John has in his collection a few ugly ties. But I know they carry sentimental value, since he got them in Hungary while serving his mission. I guess we can blame the Hungarians for having such awful ties. Something else that came to light is that extra holders still exist after putting all of his ties in place. I have now given myself permission to buy him a new tie in the next few weeks. I will be on the look-out, since ties are something that always deserve diligent patience.

Yes, I organized the ties by color. Is anyone really surprised? No? I didn't think so.